Written Answers Wednesday 15 December 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme 2003, on what date it received the European Commission Agriculture Directorate General’s Guidance Note 6, on the application of article 36(1) - calculation of the number of animals eligible in the event that the foreseen split between cows and heifers is not respected.

Ross Finnie: The guidance note itself is not dated but the European Commission’s covering letter is dated 21 November 2002. Member states would have received this guidance shortly after that.

Ambulance Service

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Scottish Ambulance Service’s EC 135 helicopter has been deployed to transport patients from or within Orkney in each month since January 2006.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in this table:

  

 Month of 2006
 Occasions when EC 135 Helicopter has been Deployed to Transport Patients from or Within Orkney


 January
 12


 February
 12


 March
 7


 April
 7


 May
 12


 June
 6


 July
 5


 August
 4


 September
 3


 October
 5



  Note: # Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Apprenticeships

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices it will help to fund in each of the next five years.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has provided funding to the Enterprise Networks in order to achieve the Partnership Agreement target of having 30,000 modern apprentices (MAs) in training by 2006. This target was achieved two years early and it is intended to maintain the number of MAs in training at least above this level up until May 2007. There are currently no MA targets for the next five years.

Arts

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what input and involvement the voluntary arts sector has in the Cultural Planning and Entitlements Working Group.

Patricia Ferguson: I recognise the important contribution the voluntary arts sector makes to Scotland’s cultural provision. The sector is a valuable resource for local authorities in their delivery of cultural planning and entitlements.

  The Executive set up its Cultural Planning and Entitlements Working Group to develop guidance on implementation of the aspects of the draft Culture Bill that affect local authorities. While membership includes local authority representatives and the national cultural organisations with the closest operational relationship with the local authority sector, representatives from other important sectors were consulted while the guidance was being drafted. The voluntary cultural sector has been invited, through meetings and written correspondence, to contribute its knowledge and experience to that process.

Central Heating Programme

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have benefited from free insulation or free central heating in each of the last three years and how many households it estimates will benefit in each of the next three years.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The number of Central Heating and Warm Deal Installations for the last three years are shown in the following table :

  

 Year
 Central Heating
 Warm Deal Measures


 2003-04
 16,788
 27,520


 2004-05
 15,207
 19,013


 2005-06
 15,992
 15,499



  The estimated numbers of central heating and warm deal installations to be completed in 2006-07 are 13,000 and 17,500 respectively. These figures are based on using an additional £5 million, between now and the end of this financial year, to help up to 5,000 more householders benefit from these programmes. In 2007-08, the estimated numbers of central heating and warm deal installations that will be carried out are 12,000 and 12,800 respectively. The present programme is scheduled to finish in March 2008.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its forecast is of economic growth in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not produce forecasts for GDP growth.

  However, according to the four major independent forecasters monitored by the Executive, Scotland is expected to experience growth above its long-run annual average in both 2006 and 2007.

Employment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new jobs have been created in each year since 1997 where the contribution per job from public funds was (a) up to £10,000, (b) between £10,000 and £99,999, (c) between £100,000 and £499,999, (d) between £500,000 and £999,999, (e) between £1 million and £1,999,999 and (f) £2 million and above.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to securing a more dynamic economy and recognises that public expenditure impacts both directly and indirectly on economic performance, including positive effects on the labour market. Employment in Scotland has increased by nearly 220,000 since 1997.

  Information on the direct contribution of public funds to job creation is available through the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme. The RSA is the Scottish Executive’s main national scheme of financial assistance to industry, helping create and safeguard jobs and encourage investment in the Assisted Areas (AAs) of Scotland.

  The table below provides details of the number of planned jobs (created and safeguarded) where the contribution per job is in the categories requested.

  

 Calendar Year
 No. of Planned Jobs (£ Million)


Up to 0.01per job
0.01-0.1per job
0.1-0.5per job
0.5-1per job
1-2per job
Over 2per job


 1997
 7,564
 3,320
 6,893
 871
 0
 0
 0
 0


 1998
 7,672
 3,141
 2,743
 153
 0
 0
 0
 0


 1999
 6,999
 2,806
 2,869
 1,087
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2000
 8,140
 5,024
 3,022
 941
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2001
 4,134
 1,221
 1,163
 77
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2002
 3,733
 2,539
 788
 1,525
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2003
 2,568
 3,036
 714
 399
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2004
 5,369
 1,677
 802
 1,264
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2005
 6,094
 1,605
 897
 612
 0
 0
 0
 0

Employment

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding planned job losses in Scotland in HM Revenue and Customs and the closure of its offices across Scotland.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any input to the UK Government’s decision to centralise HM Revenue and Customs, in light of the Executive’s relocation policy.

Nicol Stephen: The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) change programme is primarily a matter for UK Government, however, the Scottish Executive has a strong interest in this issue from both "Efficient Government" and potential job loss perspectives.

  No detailed discussions have taken place with the UK Government, but the issue was raised at inter-Departmental HR meetings attended by Scottish Executive officials where operational issues in relation to civil service staff surpluses, vacancies and redeployment are discussed.

  We welcome the consultation being undertaken to help HMRC understand the impact of their plans on staff and communities. It is, however, too early to speculate on the impact in Scotland of any possible job losses. However, as we have previously indicated, we will take account of any potential job losses within the context of future relocation decisions.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the claimant count number and claimant count unemployment rate have been in each ward of Angus Council in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Nicol Stephen: The Claimant Count gives the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits and is produced by the Office of National Statistics.

  Table 1 shows the claimant count number and the claimant count rate for each ward in Angus month of October 2006.

  Please note that the rates are calculated using the resident working age population.

  Table 1 Claimant Count Unemployment for Wards in Angus, October 2006

  

 Angus Wards
 Number
 Rate


 Kirriemuir West
 33
 1.4


 Kirriemuir East
 50
 2.2


 Brechin West
 31
 1.3


 Brechin North Esk
 75
 3.2


 Westfield and Dean
 35
 1.3


 Forfar West
 43
 2.2


 Forfar Central
 43
 1.9


 Forfar East
 50
 2.5


 Brechin South Esk
 93
 5.4


 Montrose Ferryden
 100
 4.3


 Montrose Central
 114
 5.7


 Montrose West
 67
 3.0


 Montrose Hillside
 49
 2.0


 Forfar South
 38
 2.0


 Letham and Friockheim
 28
 1.1


 Sidlaw West
 29
 1.1


 Sidlaw East and Ashludie
 33
 1.4


 Monifieth West
 30
 1.2


 Monifieth Central
 20
 1.1


 Carnoustie West
 54
 2.1


 Carnoustie Central
 28
 1.4


 Carnoustie East
 20
 0.8


 Arbirlot and Hospitalfield
 77
 3.6


 Keptie
 46
 2.1


 Arbroath North
 49
 1.8


 Brothock
 117
 5.5


 Hayshead and Lunan
 63
 2.8


 Harbour
 136
 6.7


 Cliffburn
 94
 4.5


 Total
 1,645
 2.7



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Data are numbers of people claiming unemployment related benefits.

  2. Proportions for wards are calculated using the mid-2001 resident working age population.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the claimant count number and claimant count unemployment rate have been in each ward of Aberdeenshire Council in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Nicol Stephen: The Claimant Count gives the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits and is produced by the Office of National Statistics.

  Table 1 shows the claimant count number and the claimant count rate for each ward in Aberdeenshire month of October 2006.

  Table 1 Claimant Count Unemployment for Wards in Aberdeenshire, October 2006

  

 2003 CAS Ward
 Total Claimants


 Aberdeenshire Wards
 Number
 Rate


 Durn
 27
 1.7


 Banff West and Boyndie
 28
 1.5


 Banff
 54
 3.3


 Aberchirder
 25
 1.4


 Macduff
 35
 2.0


 Gamrie-King Edward
 28
 1.6


 Buchan North
 30
 1.7


 Fraserburgh West
 26
 1.2


 Fraserburgh North
 43
 2.4


 Fraserburgh East
 32
 2.1


 Fraserburgh South
 10
 0.5


 Buchan North East
 8
 0.5


 South Buchan
 14
 0.7


 Central Buchan
 27
 1.3


 Lonmay and St Fergus
 32
 1.6


 Mintlaw-Old Deer
 10
 0.5


 Mintlaw-Longside
 4
 0.2


 Boddam-Inverugie
 20
 0.7


 Blackhouse
 27
 1.2


 Buchanhaven
 45
 2.4


 Peterhead Central-Roanheads
 93
 4.9


 Clerkhill
 30
 1.8


 Dales-Towerhill
 30
 1.4


 Cruden
 12
 0.6


 Turriff West
 15
 0.8


 Turriff East
 11
 0.7


 Upper Ythan
 12
 0.6


 Fyvie-Methlick
 18
 0.9


 Tarves
 18
 0.7


 Ythan
 11
 0.5


 Ellon Town
 13
 0.7


 Logie Buchan
 6
 0.2


 Meldrum
 13
 0.6


 Udny-Slains
 11
 0.4


 Belhelvie
 10
 0.4


 Insch
 11
 0.5


 Chapel and Gadie
 9
 0.4


 Inverurie North
 12
 0.6


 Inverurie Central
 11
 0.6


 Inverurie South and Port Elphinstone
 19
 1.0


 Kintore and Keithhall
 11
 0.5


 Newmachar and Fintray
 10
 0.4


 Kemnay
 16
 0.7


 Echt
 8
 0.4


 Kinellar and Westhill North
 8
 0.3


 Westhill Central
 6
 0.2


 Elrick
 7
 0.3


 Huntly West
 28
 1.6


 Huntly East
 29
 1.5


 Strathbogie
 17
 0.8


 Donside and Cromar
 17
 0.9


 Alford
 11
 0.5


 Upper Deeside
 16
 0.9


 Aboyne
 6
 0.3


 Mid Deeside
 12
 0.5


 Banchory West
 14
 0.7


 Banchory East and Crathes
 7
 0.3


 Lower Deeside
 11
 0.5


 Portlethen North
 14
 0.6


 Portlethen South
 8
 0.3


 Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore
 7
 0.3


 Stonehaven North and Fetteresso
 10
 0.5


 Stonehaven Central
 14
 0.7


 Stonehaven South
 17
 0.8


 Mearns North
 15
 0.7


 Mearns Central
 16
 0.8


 Inverbervie, Gourdon and Johnshaven
 20
 0.9


 Mearns South
 32
 1.4


 Total
 1,277
 1.0



  Source: Office for National Statistics

  Notes:

  1. Data are numbers of people claiming unemployment related benefits.

  2. Proportions for wards are calculated using the mid-2001 resident working age population.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed adults in Dundee worked from home in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: Table 1 shows the percentage of employed adults people who work from home in their main job in Dundee for the last three years for which data are available.

  Table 1 Percentage of people working from home in Dundee, 2003-05

  

 
Working from Home


2003
5%


2004
5%


2005
6%



  Source:

  2004 and 2005 Data from Annual Population Survey

  2003 Data from Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey

  Notes: 1. Working from home is defined as those who work in their own home, in the same grounds or buildings as home or in different places using home as a base.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed adults in Angus worked from home in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: Table 1 shows the percentage of employed adults people who work from home in their main job in Angus for the last three years for which data are available.

  Table 1 Percentage of People Working from Home in Angus, 2003-05

  

 
Working from Home


2003
9%


2004
10%


2005
10%



  Source:

  2004 and 2005 Data from Annual Population Survey.

  2003 Data from Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey.

  Note: 1. Working from home is defined as those who work in their own home, in the same grounds or buildings as home or in different places using home as a base.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed adults in Aberdeenshire worked from home in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: Table 1 shows the percentage of adults in employment who work from home in their main job in Aberdeenshire for the last three years for which data are available.

  Table 1 Percentage of People Working from Home in Aberdeenshire, 2003-05

  

 
Working from Home


2003
13%


2004
15%


2005
13%



  Source:

  2004 and 2005 Data from Annual Population Survey.

  2003 Data from Annual Scottish Labour Force Survey.

  Note: 1. working from home is defined as those who work in their own home, in the same grounds or buildings as home or in different places using home as a base.

Employment

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been created in the (a) private and (b) public sector since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: There is no information held centrally on how many jobs have been created in the private and public sector. However, it is possible to look at net change in employment in both of these sectors. The following table shows the level of public and private sector employment and the net change over the year in Scotland for each year since 1999. These data used are not seasonally adjusted.

  Table 1 Employment by Sector, 1999-2006

  

 
 Public Sector
 Private Sector


 
 Level
 Change on Year
 Level
 Change on Year


 1999
 528,200
 N/A
 1,784,800
 N/A


 2000
 530,500
 2,300
 1,825,500
 40,700


 2001
 534,600
 4,200
 1,826,400
 800


 2002
 545,100
 10,400
 1,827,900
 1,600


 2003
 557,500
 12,400
 1,853,500
 25,600


 2004
 572,100
 14,600
 1,883,900
 30,400


 2005
 581,600
 9,500
 1,884,400
 500


 2006
 580,300
 -1,300
 1,906,700
 22,300



  Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Series.

  Notes:

  N/A not applicable

  1. Data are for Q3 (September) each year.

  2. Public sector figures include estimates for NHS. NHS quarterly workforce data are estimates based on the time series of actual annual data.

  3. Data are based on the National Accounts definition.

  4. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Employment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in the (a) fishing, (b) farming and (c) manufacturing sector in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available, broken down by enterprise company area.

Ross Finnie: 1. The number of people employed in sea fishing broken down by enterprise company area for the years 1997, 1999 and 2005 (latest data available) is given in the following table.

  Fishermen Employed by Enterprise Company Area

  

 Local Enterprise Company
 1997
 1999
 2005


 Argyll, Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes1
 702
 650
 571


 Ayrshire
 608
 575
 450


 Borders
 181
 145
 116


 Caithness and Sutherland
 373
 344
 220


 Dumfries and Galloway
 289
 290
 206


 Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 -


 Fife
 240
 182
 142


 Forth Valley
-
 -
 -


 Glasgow Development Agency
-
 -
 -


 Grampian
 2,515
 2,293
 1,136


 Inverness and Nairn
 24
 17
 1


 Lanarkshire
 -
 -
 -


 Lochaber
 256
 249
 177


 Lothian and Edinburgh
 179
 144
 52


 Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey
 534
 390
 248


 Orkney
 402
 342
 335


 Renfrewshire
 11
 11
 -


 Ross and Cromarty
 213
 215
 132


 Shetland
 683
 623
 451


 Skye and Lochalsh
 205
 139
 183


 Tayside
 98
 84
 64


 Western Isles
 681
 637
 487



  Notes:

  1. In 1997 and 1999, figures for Cumbraes were included in a combined return for Cumbraes and Largs which has been assigned to Ayrshire LEC

  2. The employment figures for farming are not available by enterprise company area.

  3. The number of people employed in manufacturing broken down by enterprise company area for the years 1998, 1999 and 2004 (latest data available) is shown in the following table.

  Manufacturing Employment by Enterprise Company Area

  

Local Enterprise Company
1998
1999
2004


Argyll, Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes
1,700
1,600
1,700


Ayrshire
27,100
25,800
17,000


Borders
8,300
9,200
7,200


Caithness and Sutherland
2,200
2,100
3,000


Dumfries and Galloway
10,000
9,800
7,500


Dunbartonshire
8,900
9,000
5,900


Fife
28,800
28,700
20,800


Forth Valley
20,900
17,700
13,600


Glasgow Development Agency
31,400
31,100
23,700


Grampian
28,400
27,900
22,800


Inverness and Nairn
3,400
3,300
3,300


Lanarkshire
44,300
43,800
31,900


Lochaber
1,000
800
900


Lothian and Edinburgh
50,300
44,600
32,100


Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey
5,700
5,700
5,300


Orkney
900
600
600


Renfrewshire
24,800
25,800
14,100


Ross and Cromarty
2,500
2,700
1,500


Shetland
1,400
1,200
1,000


Skye and Lochalsh
200
200
200


Tayside
22,400
22,700
21,000


Western Isles
1,300
800
800



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Data for 1998 and 1999 are based on 1991 census wards. Data for 2004 are based on 2003 CAS wards.

  3. These data are based on a survey and are therefore subject to a degree of error. Therefore any changes over time may not be significant.

  4. Consistent data for enterprise company areas are not available prior to 1998.

Energy Efficiency

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25092 by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2006, whether it still expects to publish its draft energy efficiency strategy before the end of 2006.

Nicol Stephen: It is anticipated that the Strategy will be published early in 2007. It is important that energy efficiency and microgeneration are mainstreamed across the range of policy areas. Additional work has been required to ensure that the strategy reflects this and that clear objectives and targets are set for the future.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its energy efficiency and micro-generation strategy.

Nicol Stephen: It is anticipated that the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy will be published early in 2007.

Fertility Treatment

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the allocation of IVF treatment is prioritised by NHS boards.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for individual NHS boards. The information is not held centrally.

Fertility Treatment

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to NHS boards on the provision of IVF treatment.

Lewis Macdonald: The Expert Advisory Group on Infertility in Scotland (EAGISS) published a report with recommendations on the care of infertile couples in 2000. The recommendations were produced to provide health boards with a model, evidence-based service that every couple with an established clinical need should be able to access.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28690 by Mr Tom McCabe on 18 October 2006, whether there are any plans to further expand the Relocation Advisory Service and increase the number of staff it employs.

Mr Tom McCabe: We currently have no plans to expand the Relocation Advisory Service or increase the number of staff.

Further and Higher Education

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many university and college graduates from each Highlands and Islands parliamentary constituency returned to work in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last 10 years.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number of graduates at post graduate, first degree or sub degree level that were domiciled in the Highlands and Islands, went away to study at an higher education institution (HEI) and then returned to the Highlands and Islands. This information is available from a voluntary survey of students conducted six months after graduation. The data collected is coded to local authority of domicile and employment, not parliamentary constituency.

  Number of Graduates from HEIs Returning to Work in the Highlands and Islands Six Months after Graduation

  

Domicile Prior to Study
Shetland Islands
Orkney Islands
Eilean Siar
Highland Council


2002-03
40
40
35
305


2003-04
45
45
45
360


2004-05
55
60
105
370



  Notes: The table includes students graduating from a postgraduate or undergraduate course at a UK HEI excluding UHI Millennium Institute and the Open University. Student who continue their studies after graduation are not included. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.

  Data for Colleges do not show the area within Scotland where people work. Prior to 2002-03 HEI data were only collected for a sub-set of students, making the results not consistent with the data reported above.

Further and Higher Education

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it can take to help Scotland’s universities and colleges exploit commercial opportunities overseas and become more internationally competitive.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish ministers have encouraged our universities and colleges to exploit commercial overseas opportunities. However, I am pleased to be able to announce today that we have agreed that Scottish Development International (SDI) will now provide support to colleges and universities in their international development, in the same way that it supports international opportunities for Scottish companies.

  The international market in tertiary education has become increasingly competitive. To continue to succeed, Scotland’s colleges and universities must take a strategic approach to assessing overseas markets and opportunities.

  This new function within SDI will enable us to give stronger support to educational institutions that wish to develop their international activities. The support offered would include:

  market research;

  assistance with commercialisation of research and development;

  help in finding joint venture partners and licensees abroad, and

  support to establish an overseas presence.

  This new SDI support function will deliver clear benefits to further and higher education in Scotland, and will help to expand the development of Scottish education and research in international markets.

Health

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the bed occupancy rate is in St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the occupancy rate for NHS beds at St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra for the years ending 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006 is shown in the following table.

  

Year Ending
% Occupancy


31 March 2005
67.4


31 March 20061
54.4



  Source: ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2006-03606

  Note: 1. Data for the period August 2005 – March 2006 is estimated

  Occupancy may vary greatly due to the small number of beds and patients treated. A small shift in patient numbers may lead to a large variation in occupancy.

Health

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of physiotherapy service is offered in St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra.

Mr Andy Kerr: There is no national guidance on physiotherapy service levels. It is for NHS boards to plan the number and skill mix of staff needed to deliver services in their area. I understand that the allocated time for physiotherapy services at St Brendan’s Hospital, Barra is one day per week.

Health

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients normally resident in Barra have been placed in the hospital on Benbecula in each year from 1999 to 2006.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of residents of Barra and Vatersay treated as inpatient or day cases in Uist and Barra Hospital, Benbecula is presented in Table 1. Information is not available prior to March 2001; the date the hospital was opened.

  Table 1. Number of Patients1,3 Resident in Barra and Vatersay2 Treated as an In-Patient or Day Case in Uist and Barra Hospital4, Benbecula; Year Ending 31 March

  

 
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Uist and Barra Hospital
17
11
25
21
14



  Notes:

  1. These figures are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Barra and Vatersay residents have been identified using postcode sector. Postcode sector HS9 5 has been selected.

  3. A patient could be counted a maximum of once in a year but could count in more than one year.

  4. Uist and Barra hospital opened on 5 March 2001.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1304 by Malcolm Chisholm on 28 July 2003, how many patients resident in England were treated in NHS facilities in Scotland and paid for by English NHS authorities in each year since 2002.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29635 on 17 November 2006. All of these cases were payable by English NHS authorities.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by the NHS on external public relations consultants in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information on spending by NHS boards on external public relations consultants is not collected by the Scottish Executive.

Higher Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28813 by Nicol Stephen on 14 November 2006, whether this policy still applies in cases where a higher education institution refuses entry to second or subsequent years to an individual with a Higher National Diploma.

Nicol Stephen: It is the current policy of the Scottish Executive that students who have gained a Higher National Diploma (HND) and subsequently choose to enter higher education at first year level are assessed as repeating a first year of study.

  This policy also applies in cases where a higher education institution has determined that an individual with a HND is not suitable for entry into second or a subsequent year of a degree course.

  This policy is intended to encourage universities to accept students with an HND into the second or subsequent year of a degree course.

Income

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of Scotland’s income per head of population.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table presents estimates of Scotland’s annual income per head of population based on the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey.

  

Income measure (£ per head)
 2004-05


 Gross household income
 12,573


 Net disposable household income (before housing costs)
 9,523


 Net disposable household income (after housing costs)
 8,428



  Source: Households Below Average Income datasets, DWP, 2004-05.

  Notes:

  Gross income: Total income from all sources including from tax credits, before deductions of income tax and National Insurance.

  Net disposable income: Gross income after deductions for income tax, National Insurance Contributions, council tax, pension contributions and maintenance payments.

  Housing costs: Net disposable income but with rent/mortgage payments, water charges, structural insurance premiums, ground rent and service charges deducted.

Land Register

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland for rectification of the Land Register of Scotland in each year from 1999-2000 to 2005-06 and how many of these applications were granted in each of those years.

Des McNulty: The following applications for rectification were received by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland for the years undernoted:

  

 
 No. of Land Register Applications
 Applications for Rectification Received
 Applications for Rectification Granted


 2002-03
 298,476
 443
 411


 2003-04
 358,855
 447
 423


 2004-05
 378,659
 378
 349


 2005-06 
 393,300
 482
 454



  Note: No figures relating to rectification are held by the agency prior to those for 2002-03.

  In addition to the formal process of rectification of the Land Register, small scale corrections (around 5,000 each year) are made administratively in respect of presentational matters (e.g. typing, spelling, layout errors) disclosed in Land Certificates.

Land Register

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland granted an indemnity in respect of loss under the terms of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 in each year from 1999-2000 to 2005-06 and what total value of indemnities was paid in each of those years.

Des McNulty: Year
 No. of Titles on the Land Register
 No. of Indemnity Cases Granted
 Value of Indemnities Paid


 1999-2000
 693,326
 44
£73,347


 2000-01
 769,526
 67
£320,320


 2001-02
 868,935
 54
£86,076


 2002-03
 971,574
 53
£76,725


 2003-04
 1,073,837
 86
£410,416


 2004-05
 1,166,324
 77
£446,977


 2005-06
 1,256,241
 83
£394,174

Land Register

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases since 1 April 2006 the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has awarded indemnity for loss under the terms of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979; what the total value was of such indemnifications paid, and in how many cases a decision by the Keeper on a possible indemnity award is pending.

Des McNulty: The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has awarded indemnity in 56 cases since 1 April 2006. The value of these indemnities is £204,209. A decision is pending in 13 cases.

Land Register

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for rectification of the Land Register of Scotland have been received by the Keeper of the Register of Scotland since 1 April 2006 and, of these, how many (a) have been granted and (b) are still awaiting determination.

Des McNulty: The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland has received 275 applications for rectification since 1 April 2006. One hundred and ninety-three applications have been granted and 43 are still awaiting determination.

Local Government

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to issue regulations under section 11 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 to amend the consent regime to allow local authorities to dispose of land for less than the best that can reasonably be obtained.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has consulted on draft regulations under Section 11 of the Local Government (Scotland) 2003 to enable local authorities to dispose of land for less than full value without the need to seek the prior consent of Scottish ministers, subject to a threshold amount. The responses are currently being considered to determine if changes to the draft regulations are merited. A further consultation exercise may then be necessary. It is therefore not possible to say exactly when the regulations will be issued, but the current aim is to have these finalised early in 2007.

Medical Research

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) public, (b) private and (c) charitable funding has been spent on medical and scientific research into (i) heart disease, (ii) cancer, (iii) stroke and (iv) dementia in Scotland and what information it has on such funding for the United Kingdom as a whole over the last five years.

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) public, (b) private and (c) charity money has been spent on health and social care research into (i) heart disease, (ii) cancer, (iii) stroke and (iv) dementia in Scotland and what information it has on such funding for the United Kingdom as a whole over the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

  The most comprehensive research analysis available is from the UK Clinical Research Collaboration website www.ukcrc.org and specifically for cancer from the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) website www.ncri.org.uk/.

National Health Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks on nursing staff working in the community have been recorded in each NHS board area in the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not collected centrally in the form requested. However with the development of the Scottish Workforce Information Statistical System (SWISS) this kind of information will be available in the future.

  The data available on violence and aggression related incidents up to 31 March 2004 can be seen on the Scottish Health Statistics website under workforce statistics:

  www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

National Health Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the occupational health cost of violence against healthcare staff has been in each NHS board in the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

National Health Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has undertaken to improve the safety and security of NHS staff working in the community.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has spent over £700,000 on projects aimed at reducing violence and aggression over the last few years.

  This includes two zero tolerance poster campaigns which applied across NHSScotland, including general and dental practices and pharmacies. In addition I recently launched GP practice specific posters to raise awareness to GPs and their staff that violent or abusive behaviour is unacceptable. The pack includes a web site access to a simple incident reporting form for GP practice use.

  Amongst the individual projects funded was "Guardian Angel", this is a phone operated system which links the healthcare worker with a central base that tracks the worker and provides an alert to the police should the worker not respond within a certain timescale. Other aspects of funding have been used in the acute setting or in a more generic capacity, such as for de-escalation training.

Planning

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether charges are made for planning applications in respect of wind turbines for domestic dwellings in Scotland, but not in England and Wales and, if so, what these charges are and whether the same level of charges applies in each local authority area.

Des McNulty: Fees to be levied in respect of planning applications are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and are common to all local authorities in Scotland.

  Paragraph 7(a) of table 2 of the 2004 regulations indicates that "the carrying out of operations, including the erection of a building, within the curtilage of an existing dwellinghouse, for purposes ancillary to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse" incurs a fee of £130. The interpretation of the regulations is, however, a matter for the planning authority and ultimately the courts.

  I understand that an appropriate fee is also charged in England and Wales for such a development.

Regeneration

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it intends to spend in each of the next three years in assisting local authorities to encourage community ownership of assets.

Des McNulty: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Ministers have agreed to make £0.5 million available to March 2008, initially targeted on those areas covered by the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38936) to help build the capacity of smaller community groups in disadvantaged areas to own assets. This will be dispersed with the involvement of local Social Economy Partnerships, and will complement the Big Lottery Fund’s £50 million growing community assets programme.

  Decisions about funding beyond March 2008 will be taken in the light of the next spending review.

Road Safety

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated for the promotion of road safety in each police force area in each of the last five years, also expressed on a per capita basis.

Tavish Scott: Information is not available in the format requested as no specific funding is allocated to police forces for the promotion of road safety. Decisions on the use of funding in each force are an operational matter for individual chief constables.

  The Scottish Executive supports local authority core revenue expenditure through its block grant. It is, however, for each local authority to decide how best to allocate its block grant, based on its local needs and priorities and while taking into consideration its statutory duties. Local roads authorities are responsible for measures to promote safe driving on local roads. This includes taking such measures as are appropriate to prevent accidents, including the dissemination of information and advice relating to the use of roads.

Road Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to encouraging motorists to use dipped headlights when it is raining or lighting conditions are poor.

Tavish Scott: The Highway Code gives advice on driving in adverse weather conditions. The code states that drivers "must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced", thereafter it is a matter for the police to enforce. Every qualified driver has demonstrated a knowledge of the code as part of their driving test, and therefore should be entirely aware of the requirement to use dipped headlights in adverse weather conditions.

  On trunk roads and motorways, motorists are encouraged to use dipped headlights in dull weather through messages displayed on the Variable Message Sign (VMS) infrastructure operated by Transport Scotland.

  Transport Scotland receives twice-daily dedicated weather forecasts from the Met Office. This information is used by the operators of the VMS service to raise awareness of impending severe weather on the trunk road network. On confirmation by CCTV, the Police or the Operating Companies that severe weather is affecting particular areas, the appropriate messages are displayed on the local VMS signs. These include Heavy Rain and Flooding Forecast – Drive with Care, Fog Forecast – Drive with Care and Caution Fog.

  Local roads authorities are responsible for measures to promote safe driving on local roads. This includes taking such measures as are appropriate to prevent accidents, including the dissemination of information and advice relating to the use of roads.

Road Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve road safety in the winter months.

Tavish Scott: Every year the trunk road operating companies are required to submit winter maintenance plans which set out in detail how they intend to fulfil their responsibility to, so far as is practical, keep the trunk roads free of snow and ice. Copies of the winter maintenance plans will be placed in Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  This year in accordance with the requirements of the 3rd generation trunk road maintenance contracts which were awarded in April 2006 the plans for the North West and South West units will include some additional safety measures:

  Pre-wetted salt will be used for the first time. This reacts quicker then conventional salt and ensures more of the salt stays on the road.

  The temperature threshold for pre-treating roads has been increased by 1oC. This will result in more pre-salting of the network being carried out.

  Winter patrols will also be introduced on many trunk routes which previously had no patrols and a new enhanced back up facility provided.

  Road safety and winter maintenance on local roads is the responsibility of local authorities.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for the Scottish trunk road network and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has carried out into who leaked the MacKay report on the Scottish Criminal Record Office’s handling of the Shirley McKie case to Mike Pringle MSP.

Elish Angiolini QC: The circumstances of the unauthorised disclosure of the Mackay & Robertson report are presently under consideration by Crown Office and, as such, it would be inappropriate to give further details at this time.

Scottish Executive Contracts

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29623 by Mr Tom McCabe on 17 November 2006, from where in Scotland Eden Springs (UK) Ltd sources its water and what value this contributes to the economy.

Mr Tom McCabe: The water supplied to the Executive under its contract with Eden Springs (UK) Ltd is sourced from Blantyre. Eden Spring uses water that is extracted from private springs that are dedicated to the companys’ use and are environmentally protected.

  The total workforce of the company is 580 UK-wide and of that 37% (215) is employed in Scotland.

Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the key performance targets set for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 2006-07.

Ross Finnie: For the year 2006-07 the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency’s financial resources will provide for the following inputs from the surveillance and enforcement assets at its disposal:

  Air: Total flying hours contracted – 1,900.

  Sea: Total available patrol days - 1,264.

  Land: Total available British Sea

  Fishery Officer enforcement days – 9,900.

  Based on these inputs and following a review of the agency’s performance measure, I have set the following key targets for the financial year 2006-07:

  Agency Enforcement Effort

  achievement of enforcement;

  targets set by European Commission for recovery measures - 100%, and

  percentage of total running costs expended on front-line activity - 89 %.

  Aerial Surveillance

  per cent of hours flown on task - 85%.

  Marine Surveillance

  uptake as a per cent of total available patrol days - 94%.

  Sea Fisheries Inspectorate

  per cent of total tonnage landed into Scottish ports, and

  checked against logsheet - 80%.

  Cases for Prosecution

  cases for prosecution to be reported within six weeks of offences being detected - 97%;

  number of cases where court proceedings are taken or the imposition;

  of a PF fine or reprimand, as percentage of offences reported, and

  to prosecuting authorities - 84%.

  Efficiency

  cash-releasing efficiency gain - £170,000.

  The Chief Executive will be directly accountable to me for the achievement of these targets, which will be reported in the agency’s annual report for 2006-07.

  A comparison with actual performance in 2005-06 is attached for reference.

  Agency Performance Measures and Targets

  

 Measures
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Target
 Actual
 Achieved
Proposed


 Agency Enforcement Effort
 
 
 
 


 Achievement of recovery measure enforcement targets set by European Commission
 N/A
 100%
 N/A
 100%


 Percentage of total running costs expended on front-line activity
 N/A
 89%
 N/A
 89%


 Aerial Surveillance
 
 
 
 


 Per cent of hours flown on task (%)
 85
 85
 YES
 85


 Marine Surveillance
 
 
 
 


 Uptake of Available Patrol Days (%)
 98
 95
 NO
 94


 Sea Fisheries Inspectorate
 
 
 
 


 Percent of total tonnage landed checked against logsheet
 80
 83
 YES
 80


 Cases reported for Prosecution
 
 
 
 


 Within 6 weeks of offence (%)
 97
 100
 YES
 97


 No of cases where court proceedings are taken or the imposition of a PF fine or reprimand as percentage of offences reported for prosecution (%)
 94
 84
 NO
 84


 Cash releasing efficiency gains
 1.0
 0.6
 NO
£170,000

Statistics

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had any input to the UK Government’s planned legislation to create an independent board to enhance confidence in government statistics, as announced in the Queen’s Speech.

Mr Tom McCabe: Yes, the Executive has been working closely with HM Treasury and the Office for National Statistics on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill.

Student Finance

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the graduate endowment fund has disbursed in the last three academic years.

Nicol Stephen: There is no graduate endowment fund. The Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001 provided that income arising from the graduate endowment for the financial year to which it related is to be used for the provision of student support in the form of loans and bursaries for living costs.

  The first income to be raised from eligible graduates for the Graduate Endowment became available in financial year 2005-06. The income raised for that year was £1.98 million. It is estimated that £18.353 million will be raised from eligible graduates in 2006-07.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its approved per capita investment in transport has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by category of transport.

Tavish Scott: The total transport expenditure over the past 10 years (1995 to 2005) has increased significantly from £261 million to £859 million, whilst total population figures for Scotland have remained fairly constant around 5 million.

  Per Capita investment in Transport has increased from £51.25 per person in 1995 to £168.60 per person in 2005.

  Overview of Transport Spending per Capita broken into modes of transport

  

 
 2004-05
 2003-04
 2002-03
 2001-02
 2000-01
 1999-2000
 1998-99
 1997-98
 1996-97
 1995-96


 
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita
£ per capita


 Motorways & trunkroad
£64.38
£58.88
£48.64
£30.07
£32.78
£32.00
£30.76
£33.68
£39.93
£44.58


 HIAL
£4.12
£4.73
£4.75
£3.76
£2.96
£2.37
£1.18
£1.38
£1.38
£2.16


 Caledonian
£6.48
£5.51
£5.14
£4.35
£4.34
£4.15
£4.53
£3.55
£1.97
£2.16


 British Waterways
£2.55
£2.56
£2.77
£1.78
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 Rail
£35.33
£37.02
£22.94
£15.63
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 Northern Isle ferries 
£5.69
£4.53
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 BSOG
£10.99
£10.44
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 FFG
£0.39
£0.59
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 ITF
£22.57
£13.98
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00


 Other
£16.09
£13.98
£29.26
£21.17
£14.81
£7.11
£3.55
£2.76
£2.36
£2.36


 TOTAL Spend per Capita
£168.60
£152.21
£113.50
£76.76
£54.90
£45.63
£40.02
£41.36
£45.64
£51.25


 Total Transport Expenditure
£859 million
£773 million
£574 million
£388 million
£278 million
£231 million
£203 million
£210 million
£232 million
£261 million


PopulationIn millions
 5.0948
 5.0784
 5.0574
 5.0548
 5.0642
 5.0629
 5.0719
 5.0770
 5.0833
 5.0921

Transport

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to raise awareness among motorists of the dangers of tailgating, particularly during the winter months when driving conditions are poor.

Tavish Scott: Road Safety Scotland, who are funded by the Scottish Executive for the development of key educational initiatives and publicity messages, are distributing 60,000 R U 2 CLOSE? stickers, including through police and local authority road safety units, as part of its current winter publicity campaign to alert drivers of the danger of being too near to the vehicle in front.

  Transport Scotland, the agency responsible for the Traffic Scotland system, use the 326 roadside Variable Message Signs (VMS) and lane control signal gantries across the trunk road network to display various safety messages. These background messages are changed up to five times a day.

  Transport Scotland actively support police-led road safety campaigns, by using the VMS network to reinforce the safety messages. The message R U 2 CLOSE? is one of a number of road safety messages displayed on the signs in winter months in order to back up a national police safety campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of driving too close to the vehicle in front. The messages are implemented on the signs in cooperation with the police and other agencies specifically to ensure that the police campaign has the maximum impact on the road user.

  Transport Scotland has also commissioned a study to assess how it may combat tailgating on the motorway network. This is due for completion in January 2007, with possible measures being implemented later in 2007. Likely options will include chevron carriageway markings and signing supported by vehicle activated signing triggered by loop detectors at times of reduced headway.

  Local roads authorities have a duty to prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety on local roads for which they are responsible.

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the number of people who commute one kilometre or less to work by car or van.

Tavish Scott: Information about the percentage of employed adults, who do not work at or from home, who live less than one kilometre from their place of work and whose usual method of travel to work is car or van is given in table 22 of Household Transport in 2005: some Scottish Household Survey results , published by the Scottish Executive in 2006, copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 40754).

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time university students in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority area have been in receipt of bursaries in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: The following table highlights the number of bursaries awarded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to full-time university students who were domiciled in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas in each of the last three academic years:

  

 Academic Year 
 Full-Time University Students Receiving a Bursary, by Local Authority Area


 (a) Dundee City
 (b) Angus
 (c) Aberdeenshire


 2003-04
 1,250
 935
 1,860


 2004-05
 1,295
 960
 1,830


 2005-06
 1,355
 1,060
 1,895



  Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

  Note: All student numbers in this table are rounded up or down to the nearest five.

  Students can receive a number of different financial awards/bursaries, including travel expenses, Young Students Bursary, Lone Parents Grant, Standard Maintenance Allowance, Disabled Students Allowance, Lone Parents Childcare Grant, Young Students Outside Scotland Bursary and Dependants Grant. Students receiving any of these bursaries or allowances are included in the table.

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many passenger rail journeys have been made on the (a) Dundee to Aberdeen, (b) Dundee to Arbroath and (c) Dundee to Montrose routes in each of the last three years for which data are available.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what percentage of adults in (a) Dundee, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire have had a full driving licence in each of the last three years.

Tavish Scott: Information about the percentage of adults in each local authority area who have a full driving licence is not available for single years, because the Scottish Household Survey is not designed to provide figures on this basis. The latest available information is given in table 3 of Transport Across Scotland in 2003 and 2004: some Scottish Household Survey results for parts of Scotland , published by the Scottish Executive in 2006, copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39255). This gives information for the two-year period 2003-04. The corresponding figures for 1999-2000 and 2001-02 are available in earlier editions; the 2005-06 edition should be published in December 2007.

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed people in Dundee travelled to work (a) by car, (b) on foot and (c) by bus in each of the last three years.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed people in Angus travelled to work (a) by car, (b) on foot and (c) by bus in each of the last three years.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed people in Aberdeenshire travelled to work (a) by car, (b) on foot and (c) by bus in each of the last three years.

Tavish Scott: Information about the percentage of adults in each local authority area who travel to work (a) by car, (b) on foot and (c) by bus is not available for single years, because the Scottish Household Survey is not designed to provide figures on this basis. The latest available information is given in table 18 of Transport Across Scotland in 2003 and 2004: some Scottish Household Survey results for parts of Scotland , published by the Scottish Executive in 2006, copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39255). This gives information for the two-year period 2003-2004. The corresponding figures for 1999-2000 and 2001-02 are available in earlier editions; the 2005-06 edition should be published in December 2007.

Transport

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households in Dundee had (a) no car, (b) one car and (c) two cars available for private travel in each of the last three years.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households in Angus had (a) no car, (b) one car and (c) two cars available for private travel in each of the last three years.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households in Aberdeenshire had (a) no car, (b) one car and (c) two cars available for private travel in each of the last three years.

Tavish Scott: Information about the percentage of households in each local authority area who had (a) no car, (b) one car and (c) two cars is not available for single years, because the Scottish Household Survey is not designed to provide figures on this basis. The latest available information is given in table 1 of Transport Across Scotland in 2003 and 2004: some Scottish Household Survey results for parts of Scotland , published by the Scottish Executive in 2006, copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 39255). This gives information for the two-year period 2003-04. The corresponding figures for 1999-2000 and 2001-02 are available in earlier editions; the 2005-06 edition should be published in December 2007.

Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its capital investment in transport (a) has been in each of the last 10 years and (b) is estimated to be in each of the next five years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table gives the information requested for each year from 1997-98 to 2006-07.

  

 Year
 Amount
 Source


1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
£248 million£236 million£227 million
£276 million
  £404 million
£541 million  £769 million
 Information from 1997-98 to 2003-04
extracted from The Scottish Transport Statistics (number 24) 2005 Edition (tables 11.1 and 11.4 under the heading "Expenditure on transport within the Scottish Ministers’ responsibility").


2004-05
2005-06
£674 million
£862 million
 Scottish Executive Finance System and Local Authority returns. 


 2006-07 (From 1 April 2006 to 31 October 2006)
£351 million
 Only includes available information extracted from the Scottish Executive accounting system from 
1 April 2006 to 
31 October 2006. Excludes information on Local Authority capital expenditure which is currently not available. 



  Spending plans for the 2007-08 year are included in the Scottish Executive Draft 2007-08 Budget which was published in 2006 on the Scottish Executive internet at: http://scotland.gov.uk/Publications.

  The Chancellor is expected to announce the outcome of the UK Comprehensive Spending Review in July 2007, which will determine the size of the Scottish Budget for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Future investment proposals for Transport will be included in the Scottish Spending Review.

Correction

The reply to question S2W-29800 which was originally answered on 22 November 2006, has been corrected: see page 9550 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa1512.htm.